Have you ever experienced waking up at night, feeling that your chest is burning? Sometimes the pain is so intense that you think you’re having a heart attack?
Well folks, you might be experiencing GERD (gastric esophageal reflux disorder), most popularly known as, heartburn.
So, what happens in GERD?
The muscular ring between the end of the esophagus and the beginning of the stomach normally keeps stomach acid where it belongs – in the stomach. But in people with heartburn, the area of the lower esophageal sphincter muscle (LES), may not prevent stomach acid from splashing up into the esophagus. Thus, you will possibly experience a burning chest.
When it comes to acid reflux, there are certain foods that are almost universally problematic. Hence, the best way is to avoid them entirely.
- Meat. Ground beef, marbled sirloin, chicken nugget-style, and chicken/buffalo wings.
- Fats, Oils & Sweets. Chocolate, regular corn and potato chips, high-fat butter cookies, brownies, doughnuts, creamy and oily salad dressings, fried or fatty food in general.
- Fruits, Vegetables & Juice. Orange juice, lemon, lemonade, grapefruit juice, cranberry juice, tomato, mashed potatoes, French fries, raw onion, potato salad.
- Beverages. Liquor, wine, soda, coffee, and tea.
- Grains. Macaroni and cheese, spaghetti with marinara sauce.
- Dairy. Sour cream, milk shake, ice cream, regular cottage cheese.
The foods and beverages mentioned may contribute to heartburn because they lessen the effectiveness of the LES to keep stomach contents inside the stomach. Carbonated beverages can put pressure on the stomach, forcing stomach acid back up into the esophagus.
These foods won’t be triggers for everyone. If they’re a big component of your diet, just make sure to track them carefully in your diary. However, it is still better to avoid these foods and eat smaller meals, so you can decrease the amount of reflux from your stomach into the esophagus.
Image Credits: buzzle, thevanguardclinic, refluxmd, irtces, refluxdefense
